Crutch.



PATENTED .TUNE 2, 1908.

G. B. MOGONNELL.

y GRUTGH.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 25, 1908.

THENaRRls Pzrsxs co.. wAsHIvGraN. o. c:

GEORGE BRINTON MCCONNELL, OF HOUSTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

CRUTCI-I.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed March 25, 1908. Serial No. 423,188.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE BRINTON MO- OONNELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Houston, in the County of Washington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented Certain new and useful Improvements in Orutches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, Clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to crutches, and more particularly to a crutch which is provided with an adjustable steel 'fang or Creeper for use during icy weather. The crutch is made in every other way about the same as the ordinary crutch now in use.

l will now describe my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1,-is a side elevation of a crutch elnbodying my improvements. Fig, 2, is a detail side elevation of the fang or Creeper removed, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the cylinder which Carries the spring for holdingthe fang or Creeper into position.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings. f

A represents a crutch, the general construction of which is practically the same as the ordinary crutch, with the exception that the lower end from the ferrule down through the rubber tip B, is provided with an opening or hole for receiving and retaining the fang or Creeper D. Just below the handle is a cylinder O, which is heldin place by means of screws c, which enter the solid or plugged ends b, of the cylinder. This cylinder is slotted as shown at c and c', allowing the flattened portion of the fang to pass through and work therein, and a spring d, is Contained within the cylinder, one end of which bears against the fang and the opposite end against the solid end of the cylinder. The purpose of this spring d, is for holding the fang over against the pin e. The fang or Creeper is provided in the flattened portion with recesses f, and g, which are adapted to engage the pin e and hold the fang or Creeper in position while in and out of use. Lugs 7L, and i, are employed for preventing the fang orcreeper from being moved too far up or down and a ball j, is screwedon to the top thereof affording means whereby the fang or Creeper may be grasped for operating it.

The operation of my invention is as follows: As will be seen, the position shown in Fig. 1,V illustrates the fang or Creeper in use. When it is desired to draw the fang up when entering the house, grasp the ball and push the fang or Creeper over against the spring which will cause Athe recess f, to become disengaged from the pin e, when the fang may be drawn up and the recess g, will engage the pin and hold it up out of use.

Having described my invention, what l claim is:

The improvements in crutches, Consisting of the crutch proper, the lower end of which is provided With an opening for receiving and containing an adjustable fang or Creeper; a Cylinder secured inthe crutch which is provided with openings for receiving the upper or flattened end of the fang, recesses formed in said fang which are adapted to engage With a pin in the Cylinder, together with a spring carried in and by saidcylinder for holding the fang or Creeper into engagement with said pin, and means for limiting the vertical movement of the fang or Creeper, all substantially as shown and described.

l GEORGE BRINTON MCCONNELL. Witnesses:

W. O. BLACK, W. A. H. McILvAINE. 

